Drag show in Perry canceled amid backlash, moves to Warner Robins

HOUSTON COUNTY – Last week, there was uproar regarding a drag show originally at Main St. Bar in Perry, but a Warner Robins establishment had different plans.

Main St. Bar planned to host the drag show on Sunday, June 30. However, people expressed their concerns regarding the show and even sent threats, according to the show’s producer Pynk Univers.

According to Univers, a Facebook group started voicing their concerns about the show. 

Perry Police Chief Alan Everidge said the owner of Main St. Bar came to the police department and reported push back on social media since the bar announced the event. 

According to Everidge, she said one of her neighbors told her the drag show was not a good look for Perry and someone might bring a gun to the event. 

Everidge said she was concerned because it was a threat against her and the business. She did not want to prosecute anyone, she just wanted to put it on the record and police documented it.

He said as an agency, they checked social media and did not see any direct threats. They saw posts of people saying they will not support the business and supportive posts, but nothing involving any threats or violence.

“There was discussion of a protest. No one ever filed for a permit to protest. So, from the police department’s perspective, the victim does not want to prosecute or want anybody to go to jail. We had no direct information or leads indicating it was some threat, that something was going to happen there so we put her home and business on watch,” he said.

As officers patrolled throughout the day, they looked at her home address and business for anything unusual. Everidge said they encouraged her to call 911 if something came up the day the event was scheduled.

After the backlash, Main St. Bar cancelled the event. Everidge said although the event was canceled they still kept a close watch on her home and business.

However, this did not stop the show from going on, and the drag show moved to Sunday night in Warner Robins.

Univers said Friends on the Hill and Pub 96 both offered to host the show. Friends on the Hill owner Khalil Blount, also known as DJ B3, noticed the situation on social media, which caused him to offer his location. Eventually, they decided to move the event to Friends on the Hill.

Univers shared it was stressful and overwhelming to move the event last minute. Despite the stress, the event was a success with a high turnout showing their support. Doors opened at 6 p.m. and the show officially started at 7 p.m.; the bar was busy right when doors opened.

Originally, the theme was divas and disco, but Univers decided to change it to a Pride theme in response to what happened in Perry.

“It’s just going to be Pride and I am going to call it ‘We Are Here,’ as in the reference to ‘we are here, and we are queer.’ I told everybody, ‘Just do you. Do what makes you happy. Show them why you do what you do.’ That’s exactly what we did and it was amazing,” he said.

He said when backlash started, he was not surprised, and it was reactions he has received previously.

“To me at least it wasn’t anything unheard of and it wasn’t anything I wasn’t ready to just deal with, because that’s something I’ve dealt with all my life: people giving threats or empty threats. But you never know. It wasn’t a problem until they were going to her house,” he said.

Univers said he would have wanted to stand his ground and put on the show but then, they had to deal with the aftermath.

Everidge said they did not change operational plans but they told their officers that were scheduled that Sunday to keep a close eye on the business; if they saw anything out of the ordinary, like a protest, deal with any protestors or potential threat.

“We patrolled Perry like we normally patrolled Perry. We had our normal set of officers working. We just told those on that particular location to keep a close check on it and if anything out of the ordinary was spotted, as far as protestors or any kind of disturbance, we would deal with that. Of course, we would respond to the call if something came out, but we did not put a special decal just to watch that particular business,” he said.

However, Univers believed extra security should have been at the bar and police should have taken a more proactive stance.

“If you’re patrolling as usual, what if something does happen instead of having someone immediately there? It’s just a whole thing,” he said. 

Everidge said he wants the public to know their job is to enforce the law in a fair, unbiased manner and protect everyone.

“In this case, the victim did not want to pursue any potential criminal charges and we did what we could to reassure them that we were here to keep everyone safe, whether that’s those who want to protest or those having the event. We’re going to enforce the law in a fair manner to the best of our ability,” he said.

Univers expressed his gratitude for the group’s supporters, friends and allies, whose support helps them heal and feel empowered. He also felt the community backlash was exaggerated.

“This is a bar for grownups and grownups can do what they want. If you don’t agree with it, then don’t go. If you don’t like it, don’t go, but there’s no need to threaten people whenever you can’t get your way,” he said.

Univers mentioned an uneasy environment can prevent the LGBTQ+ community from feeling supported.

“Because of people thinking they can just walk over somebody or treat them some kind of way just because they’re a little different,” he said.

Univers is in a group called The Tribe Macon, which organizes drag shows in Houston County and Macon. 

He said normally his drag sisters with more experience organize shows. He has always wanted to put together his own show and was offered the opportunity when Main St. Bar contacted them.

The Tribe Macon hosts many events throughout the year in Houston County and Macon. To keep up with future events, visit their Facebook page .